Jerry L. Sloan

Jerry L. Sloan, 84, of Davidson, NC, passed away on his  birthday, December 10, 2020. 

Jerry was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 10, 1936, to the late John T. Sloan and Winifred Seale Sloan. 

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 62 years, Jeanne, and their children, Timothy (Elise), Jeffrey (Melinda), David (Melissa) and Betsy (Ira) Grossman.  Jerry was grandfather to Benjamin (Alicia), Andrew (Samantha), Kathleen, Katherine, Michael, Caroline, Joseph (Cynthea), Henry and Colin Sloan and Alison and Amanda Grossman and great-grandfather to Charlotte, Jack, Ford, Matilda, Grace and Lola Sloan.  He is also survived by his sister, Dixie (Bill) Pristas, and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his brother, James (Sandra) Sloan. 

Jerry was a devoted family man.  He and Jeanne never missed a school or athletic event in which their children participated and cheered them on throughout school and professional careers.  It was the same for their grandchildren. They managed to attend more than 30 school graduations all over the country.  Jerry and Jeanne kept their family incredibly close-knit, despite the miles that separated them.  He was a faithful man, who spent countless hours praying on behalf of family and friends.  His many friends around the world remember his quick wit and ready laugh. Jerry enjoyed two successful careers – first as an award-winning public relations executive in the automobile industry at Ford Motor Co. and American Motors Corp., and then as a professor in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at his alma mater, Ohio University.  He was beloved by his students, and he impacted many lives.  Twenty years later, he kept in touch with scores of them. 

Due to the pandemic, a memorial service will be planned in 2021 at Ohio University, where Jerry and Jeanne met, fell in love and got married.  His ashes will be spread in a memorial garden which they endowed at the university. 

Donations may be made to Centre Presbyterian Church, 129 Centre Church Road, Mooresville, NC, 28117 or to The Ohio University Foundation, P.O. Box 869, Athens, Ohio 45701 with a note in the memo designating the Jerry L. Sloan Visiting Professionals in Public Relations Award; or online at https://give.ohio.edu/.